Reinstate Students’ Union in 14 Days or Our Armless Battalions Storm Your Institutions – NANS Warns UNILAG, Yabatech Managements

Reinstate Students’ Union in 14 Days or Our Armless Battalions Storm Your Institutions – NANS Warns UNILAG, Yabatech Managements.

The National Association of Nigerian Students, Southwest Zone, (NANS Zone D) has threatened to embark on massive demonstration that will halt activities in University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology if Students’ Union is not restored in the institutions within 14 days.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Coordinator of NANS Southwest Zone, Comrade Oladimeji Uthman and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta.

Uthman in the statement threatened that armless battalions of the students populace will storm the two institutions if nothing is done to ensure the reinstatement of the student’s body in the institutions within the 14 days.

The Deputy Coordinator insisted that Student’s Union remains the only recognized and legitimate representative of the students and its importance cannot be overemphasized.

He noted, “a democratically elected Students’ Union Government has remained the only recognized and legitimate stake that stands as representative of students and interfaces as advocates for student rights, privileges and welfarism with the school management, government and other relevant external stakes.

“The Student’s Union Government in every tertiary institution also stands as a government structure replicating the purpose and function of a conventional national government which administers leadership to its citizens who are students and protect them from all forms of abuse, according to the provision and dictates of its legitimate constitution.

“This structure also provides a formidable platform for training and grooming of youths and young adults. It is the potent arts of politics and leadership while they simultaneously get formal education that prepares them to take on the mantle of actual leadership roles in the corporate world and government.

“We are well aware that circumstances at one point or the other has led to the indefinite suspension of Students Union of many institutions in Nigeria. Just like any other organization of people, conflict arises and the outcome may be dire and devastating. This has never been enough reason for such association of people to be permanently proscribed. Even world wars has not led to the end of the world. We always find succor in round tables and dialogue. Institutions, Associations, Governments and Organizations has grown and evolved by learning from their flaws and gathering experiences out of their tribulations to fair even better.

“It is on this note that the leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students Southwest Zone (NANS Zone D), demands an unconditional restoration of Student’s Union Government in the University of Lagos, Akoka and Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos State. “

Uthman who lamented that Student’s Union has been suspended in the two institutions for half a decade stressed that the management of UNILAG and YABATECH have been frustrating the restoration of the student’s mouthpiece.

The NANS Deputy Coordinator also accused the institutions of outright disregard for the freedom of association and abuse of fundamental human rights.

He added, “the Students Union of these institutions are known to have been suspended for about half a decade now with no move by the various managements to have the bans lifted.

“The leadership of the zone is so much aware of the many efforts and negotiations that have been pushed by the leadership of Nigerian Students in Lagos (NANS Lagos Axis), and other relevant stakes to restore the proscribed Students’ Union in both institutions and the consistent refusal of both managements to see reasons with the agitators.

“NANS Southwest Zone hereby levels a charge of outright disregard for the freedom of association and abuse of fundamental human rights to demand welfarism and justice against both institutions as it is entrenched in the Nigeria constitution.

“Before now, the Premier Nigerian University, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso were also in the category of institutions in the Southwest Geopolitical Zone without a legitimate and democratic elected Students Union Government. But efforts by both the management and the apex student representation body, (NANS Zone D) has seen to an eventual lift of ban and restoration of the union through productive and progressive dialogue.

“It is absolutely unfortunate that both are Federal institutions hosted in the ‘Center of Excellence’ and civility center of the federation are the once found wanting in such unwholesome abuse.

“From findings, we are aware that both institutions have since the proscription of their Students’ Union Government continued to collect the SUG annual dues from their students as it is charged with the tuition fees. A fund that is collected constitutionally to fund the Students’ Union, its activities and projects.

“An illegitimate selection is now being done to impose caretaker committees as leadership over the students. These are folks who by the reason of their mode of appointment would normally dance to the tune played by the school management which most likely does not represent the interest of the students population. The students have been consistently denied their right to a legitimate election of representatives whom they can count on to advocate their interest in decision making processes in the school as it affects the students.

“Credible reports have been received that the Director of Students Affairs of these institutions have been a major adversary that exploit the privilege of being a mediator between the management and student of the institution to consistently frustrate the effort by the various students stakes to reach a progressive compromise towards the reinstating of Student’s Union of the institutions.

“The leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students Southwest Zone under the stewardship of Comrade Kappo Olawale hereby gives the management of the institutions concerned the final notice to make a definite move towards restoring the Student’s Union Government through the announcement of a total lift of ban on students unionism and a corresponding announcement of the Students Union Government election date within the next 14days or else prepare to receive the secretariat of NANS Zone D and our armless battalions as we shall resort to bringing a massive demonstration that will halt all activities in the institution.”